ENGL 201: Writing and Research

Dr. Amber Strother

Spring 2018
Final Portfolio

Overview
Your portfolio is a showcase of the writing you have revised and worked on throughout English
201. Each essay must be revised. 201 Policy, set forth by the WSU Composition Program, states
that I can refuse to accept a portfolio for which you have no preliminary drafts. Drafts of your
reflective letter count as revised work. Your portfolio counts as the bulk of your final grade in
English 201 (50% of the course grade).

The portfolio should be a professional document. Follow MLA or APA formatting and citation
guidelines in your preparation of this document.

Portfolio Requirements
Your portfolio must include your reflective letter and Project 3. Choose one of the other essay (1
or 2) to include in the portfolio. Each essay must include a complete works cited list. Drafts will
serve to demonstrate the evolution of your work and the level of revision you completed. The
portfolio must be submitted as one document (.doc or .docx), and the file must be named
correctly. File name: last name_ first name_final portfolio

1. Cover/title page
2. Table of Contents
3. Reflective letter
4. Project 3 draft with peer review feedback
5. Project 3 draft with instructor feedback
6. Response to feedback from peers and instructor
7. Revised Project 3
8. Project 1/2 draft with peer review feedback
9. Project 1/2 draft with instructor feedback
10. Response to feedback from peers and instructor
11. Revised Project 1/2 (if using 2, submit Literature review and works cited page only)

You are free to include additional materials as long as they are clearly labeled and included in
order with the documents they should be viewed with and are the table of contents (additional
drafts, cover letters from previous projects, prewriting, outlines, etc.) In other words, group all
documents together for each essay.

Reflective Letter
In the cover letter, you reflect on your writing and development as a researcher as a whole. Most
importantly, it is a place for you to present what you are accomplishing in the Portfolio; your
cover letter is where you make your claims and discuss your support, and the Portfolio is where I
look for the evidence. The object here is not to promote your writing and rhetorical skills as
perfect (even professional writers understand that there is always room for improvement, and
know that writing is never truly “finished”), but to recognize that, as writers, we all have areas
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which are strong and areas which we continue to work on. Therefore, the cover letter is more
personal than your other essays and should reveal how you see yourself as a writer and how your
Portfolio supports that development.

Your reflective letter should contain the information listed below.

 Should tell the reader about your learning and writing experience in English 201,
including your overall impression of how your writing has grown.
 Demonstrates advanced knowledge of conventions, critical thinking, information literacy,
and rhetorical sensitivity. In other words, explain how the contents of the portfolio
demonstrate the skills listed on the Department of English’s Portfolio Rubric.
 Should reference specific essays or sections of essays; however, avoid quoting yourself at
length.
 Should discuss your research process, including developing research questions, thinking
about and locating appropriate sources, and incorporating source material.
 Should explain your decision to include the essay you chose from Projects 1 and 2. What
does the essay demonstrate? What growth does it represent?
 Explain the choice to include any materials beyond the required elements.
 Should identify and discuss your strengths and weaknesses.
 Should explain the grade you believe your portfolio has earned.

Criteria for Evaluation

The portfolio will be evaluated holistically at the end of the semester and may be reviewed by
other readers. You must turn in every project in order to pass the course. Late portfolios will
not be accepted. If you struggle with an assignment or need to talk through your ideas, visit with
me during office hours or make an appointment. I am available to discuss revisions with you.
The Writing Center tutors are also available to help you revise your work.

Due Date:
Reflective letter draft: April 23 in class
Final portfolio: Sunday, April 29 by 11:59 p.m.

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 Portfolio Rubric

Proficient Competent Novice

 Identify a research-oriented problem or question.
 Present an original position or argument concerning a problem or
question which is addressed through the use of advanced research
techniques.
 Address other salient perspectives and positions in an argument
through both primary and secondary research.
 Identify and consider the influence of varying cultural, social, and
Critical Thinking historical contexts on the issue, including their own personal biases
as a researcher.
 Summarize and incorporate primary and secondary source material
into an analysis of a problem or question.
 Evaluate the effectiveness and value of both primary and secondary
source material, identify key assumptions in the source material, and
demonstrate how the material relates to an argument.

Proficient Competent Novice

 Establish an identifiable and original focus and purpose.
 Adapt and respond to the needs of different audiences, illustrating
an understanding of what genre, format, structure, and tone is
Rhetorical rhetorically appropriate for each audience.
Awareness  Skillfully address the assignment and satisfy all the requirements
outlined in the prompt.
 Identify and uphold the ethical responsibilities of a researcher
through careful attention to source material.
Proficient Competent Novice
 Use revision to develop a multiple-step research project, as opposed
to conceiving of revisions as simply editing/proofreading.
 Similarly critique their classmates' drafts during peer review, as well
as respond to their peers' questions and suggestions.
Process of Writing  Reflect on their own writing and research process and use of
primary and secondary sources.
 Extend their thinking from one draft to the next, improving the
research project through successive revisions.

Proficient Competent Novice

 Analyze what formats should be used within a particular context to
demonstrate effective research.
 Demonstrate a sophisticated knowledge of conventions of structure,
Knowledge of
paragraphing, tone, and mechanics.
Conventions
 Employ appropriate documentation and citation of sources and
understand which citation style is most appropriate for a particular
format and discipline.

Overall Comments:

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